Norman Carter Fassett

Norman Carter Fassett (March 27, 1900 – September 14, 1954) was an American botanist and professor, known as an expert on the aquatic flora of Wisconsin.

Career Fassett was born in Ware, Massachusetts. He studied at Harvard University, eventually earning his Ph.D. in 1925. That year, he was appointed an instructor of botany at the University of Wisconsin. By 1944, he had advanced to full professor and was curator of the university herbarium. Under his direction, the herbarium grew from a size of 96,000 specimens to 380,000 specimens. Fassett personally collected over 28,000. From 1948 to 1949, he was chair of the botany department.

Fassett was a founding member of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists in 1935, and served as the president of the organization for the year preceding his death.

Publications Fassett authored over 100 professional papers, mostly concerning the flora of North America.

Norman C. Fasset authored the book "A Manual of Aquatic Plants". SBN:299-01450-9; LC 57-6593

Published by The University of Wisconsin Press in 1940. Shortly before his death Dr. Fassett arranged for a revised edition of this book. Eugene C. Ogden handled the revision and attempted to bring the book more inline with present-day (1956) nomenclature.

Eponyms Several species were named in honor of Fassett, including: Callitriche fassettii Schotsman, 1966 Elatine fassettiana Steyerm., 1952 Eleocharis fassettii S.González & P.M.Peterson, 2008 Tillandsia fassettii L.B.Sm., 1955